Grain puffing machine



y 1952 R. H. ERNEST 2,598,242

GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT I'LERNEST ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 R. H. ERNEST 2,593,242

GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 S SheetS-Sheet 2 i /97 l l FIG. 2

INVENTOR. ROBERT H. ERNEST AT TOR NEYS y 1952 R. H. ERNEST 2,598,242

GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. ROBERT H. ERNEST ATTORNEYS M y 1952 R. H. ERNEST 2,598,242

GRAIN PUF'FING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 SSheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR. ROBERT H. ERNEST ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 R. H. ERNEST GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16, 1950 8 a a w I n H w JIm w M w m 2 2, y ww/v J,

ZLLLL INVENTOR.

ROBERT H. ERNEST ATTORNEYS y 7, 1952 R. .H. ERNEST 2,598,242

GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 8 Sheetvs-Shee t 6 INVENTOR.

ROBERT H. ERNEST ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 R. H. ERNEST GRAIN PUFFINGMACHINE Filed May 16, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Mum IN V EN TOR. ROBERT H. ERNEST vvw ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 R. H. ERNEST GRAIN PUFFING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 16. 1950 ATTORNEYS T m$w R W0 m N ER VB 7 mH R E B 0 R V. B H u Patented May 27, 1952 Quaker Oats Compan ration of New Jersey y, Chicago, 111., a corp Application 16, 1951'), Serial hi0.

The present invention relates to the art of pufiing edible grains or'cereals, such as wheat or rice, for the manufacture of breakfast foods or the like. The process'of puffing food stuffs is old and well known and, in general, comprises loading a charge of the grain m a heated chamber, generallytermed a gun, closing thechamber, rotating the chamber, and s'ubjecting'the grain to a pressure heating and cooking operation. After the grains have been' thoroughly cooked and the pressure within the gun has been raised to the desired point, the head or gate on the gun is suddenly released, causing a violent explosion, which ezgpands the grain to several times its normal size and discharges it from the gun.

The invention has for its object the designing of automatic mechanisms in connection with an otherwise standard gun for carrying out theseveral steps. Heretofore, the operation of the gun has been manualthroughoutand it is the purpose of this invention to devise a mechanism by which, after the gun isloaded, the operator, by two simple act-s, will set themechanism in motion, the head of the gun will be closed and locked, and the gun will start in rotation. Thereafter, the succeeding operations will proceed without any further attention on the part of the operator, the gun head being released or fired af tertl ie properinterval.

' Not only are the operations conducted automatically, but the results are more uniform, as the sequence and timing of the operations are controlled by the mechanism and not by the individual. A single operator may take care of more Q'f' the "pufiing units than is possible under the I old manual control system, thus reducing the cost (if manuiaoturing puffed cereals.

Other objects and advantages will be realized as will be apparent to those familiar with this art.

In the drawings and the accompanying description, the best known and preferred'form of the invention is disclosed, at it has been perfected for actual operation. The invention is not limited to details which are shown and described in order to make the invetni'on clear to those skilled in the art, but changes and modifications, as well as improvements therein, are within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended h re o In" the drawings:

Figf'l is'aside' elevation of a complete installan 2 is an end View thereof looking toward theleitinfigjl. is a'vertical cross section on the axis of 2?. Claims. (01. amass) the heating chamber or gun, the head or gate of the gun being'closed, as shown in full lines.

'Fig.- 4 is an endelevation of the gun looking toward the right as indicated by the section line 4-4 of Fig. 3. In this view the control lever is shown in full lines in raised position, or the position which it occupies whilethe gun is rotat- Fig. 4a is a view showing the position of the control lever when the gun'is stationary.

Fig. 5 is a section through the driving clutch by which the gun-is rotated, this view being on the line 5-5 ofFigsJ l and'lu Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line $5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'l-'! of Fig.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section through the'driving clutch on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a viewtaken at the head of the gun with the gun opened.

Fig. 10 is a view of the side of the machine looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of parts shown in Fig. 10 but in a difierent position.

Fig. 12'is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical and pressure lines which control the mechanism.

The

The rotating gun, in which the grain is heated and subjected to the pressurefor the later explosion and pufiing, is'given'the" reference numeral I. At oneendof the gun is the "gate or head indicatedgenerally'by the" numeral 2,which is tightly closed during the treatment of the grain and is then abruptly opened forth'e explosion;

The end of the gun opposite theheadis ciqsed, as shown in Fig. 3, and ism'ounted by the flange 3 to a corresponding flange 4 on a rotatable sleeve 5 mounted in bearings {tint/he end wall Tof the outer casing. The wall lis provided with reinforcing ribs as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of thecasingis'enclosedby an endwall loin which are journaled' two rollers l2, which support'the he'ad-endbfthe'gunl For this p'u'r pose, the head-end of thegun'is provided'with a flange 14, to which is secured, bythe 'bolts 15; a relatively deep 'annularring" it which rides upon the rollers 12. This ring l6 also supports the head 2 the details of which will'be referred to later. "The end wall [0 is fitted in an opening in the'wall I? ofthe large bininto whichthe gun dischargesfhe aired-grain; Located-in' th'e bin is the swinging feed chute l9 by which the-"operato'r loads-the gun" ftei' each firm'g ope This chute receives a measured charge of grain from any of the standard forms of feedingmeasuring devices, not shown.

The sides of the casing are formed by the front wall and the rear wall 2|, and the top of the casing by the removable cover 22. The interior of the casing, except at the head and for a narrow passage in which the heating burner is located, is lined with thick, heat-insulating blocks as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The side walls are extended to form supports for the mechanism and in the gap at the base of the casing is located the long gas burner supported on transverse bars 24. The burner is supplied from a line 25, in which is located the control valve 21 connected to operate through the air line 23 from any standard recording and temperature control instrument 28 which is responsive to a bulb 29 located in the side wall 2| of the casing (Fig. 12).

In the outwardly extending portion of the sleeve 5 is fitted a plate 3! and through the plate, and extending through the base of the gun, is the long steam conducting tube 35 in the inner or gun-end of which is set the steam distributing pipe 32, the outer end of which is perforated. Attached to the pipe 32 is the radial vane 33 which serves to agitate the contents of the drum as it rotates. The outer end of the tube is received in a bearing 35 set in an adjustable twopart casing formed of the sections 35 and 3?,

held together by bolts 39 to compress a packing gland 38 against the end of the tube 30 to form a steam-tight, rotatable connection with the casing 36-31.

The section 31 of the casing is connected to the steam supply pipe 42 and is supported by a bracket 43 connected to the section 37 and to one of the ribs in the end wall 1..

Gun rotating mechanism On the projecting end of sleeve 5 is fixed the hub 45 of a gun-rotating bevel gear 46, by which the gun is rotated through a bevel pinion' iS mounted on the end of a transverse shaft 45, which is rotatable in inner and outer bearing 53 and 5| carried on the U-shaped bracket 53 secured to the rear side plate 2|.

The shaft 49 is rotated from the drive pulley 55 mounted thereon through the clutch shown in detail in Figs. 5, 7, and 8. In this connection, it will be noted that the pinion 48 is half the diameter of the bevel gear 56 and that the gun must be arrested in its rotation while the gate or head is upright, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The gun is set in rotation by the operator but it is stopped after the required interval by a timing mechanism, and the arrangement is such that the gun always stops in its proper upright position. The gun rotates in clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow on Fig. 4.

The hub of the pulley 55 is keyed at 55 to an outer sleeve 58, in which is rotatable an inner sleeve 68 keyed at 6i to the shaft 45. The sleeve 60 is formed as an extension from an end plate 662. The other side of the clutch assembly is enclosed by a second end plate 63. Set screws 55 are threaded in the two end plates and bear against the key 6!.

In alignment in the plates 62 and 63 are sockets 56 and 61, in which are received and rotatable the cylindrical ends of a composite shiftable clutch pin, comprised of the two rollers 68 and 69 and an intermediate half-round driving key 10. The clutch pin is bisected by the line of contact between the sleeves 58 and 65 and in the inner face of the sleeve 58 is the slot or keyway H having the abrupt radial walls as shown in Fig. 3. In the outer surface of the sleeve 65 is the half round groove 12 in which the key 15 is received.

When the composite clutch pin, formed of the two end portions 58 and 69 and the intermediate driving key 10, is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the sleeves 58 and 5B are interlocked and the constantly driven pulley 55 will rotate the gun through the gears 45 and 5 3. When the key 10 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the gun will be at rest.

The driving key it is rocked to and from driving position by a trigger or arm 15, which is formed as a part of the roller 58. This trigger oscillates in a V-shaped recess 15 formed in the outer surface of the end plate 62 and is yieldingly held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. '7 by a coil spring 18 set in the end plate. The spring thus urges the driving key assembly in the interlocking or driving position for the gun. A cover plate 19 is fastened to the face of the plate 62.

The trigger 15 is moved and held in the dotted line or non-driving position shown in Fig. '7 by the end of a rocking arm pivoted on the rear side plate at 8| above the driving clutch. Arm 8!! is provided with an arc-shaped extension 82 which extends about 90 from the end of the arm 80. When the arm 85 is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 4, the trigger I5 is free to move to its full line position shown in Fig. '7 under the urging of the spring 13 whenever the grooves i5 and 12 come into register, as shown in Fig. 8, thus driving the gun.

When, however, the arm 85 moves to its dotted line position in Fig. 4, this arm or the extension 82 intercepts the trigger 15 and moves it to and holds it in position so that the driving connection between the pulley 55 and the gun i is broken. This stops the rotation of the gun.

The upper end of arm 85 is pivoted at 8 3 to one end of a long lever 85, which may conveniently be termed the starting lever. This lever extends to the right side of the machine where it is provided with an operating handle 86. At a midway point on the lever is a downwardly extending arm 88 having a rearwardly and downwardly extending finger 81 which is directly over the hub 45 of the large gun driving gear 55. The surface of the hub 45 is provided with a deep notch 89, the radial wall of which is adapted to strike against the finger 81 when the gun is arrested in its firing position, with the gate 2 upright as shown in Fig. la. It will be noted that the hub 45 is cut away for a substantial distance ahead of the radial wall. The outer end of the lever 85 is guided in its movement by a bracket 90 secured in the upper right hand corner of the end wall 1. A weight 9| on lever 85 comes to rest against the bracket 90 when the arm 55 is in its lowered position.

outwardly of the bracket 58, the starting lever is provided with a second downwardly extending arm 92, on the lower end of which is a roller 93 which rides on the inclined surface of a guiding plate 95 attached to the front wall of the casing. Between the arms 88 and 52 the lever is provided with an upwardly extending lug or detent 95, which, when the lever is raised, lies immediately to the rear of the lower end of a shiftable holding pin or catch 93. This holding pin is guided for vertical movement in guide 59 and connected at its upper end to the core 95 of a solenoid Hill, which is mounted on a bracket IUI on. he too; oi: the. ca in The. se ze i has:

ra s a shown Fi I y b ci d upward r a ainst; th f t a. s n 1- Also mounted; on the bracket II is a switch I432, the switch arm of; which is in the path of the lever 85 and is closed when the starting lever is raised. This switch is arranged to close. h ir uitv t a m r u i i w h ma h of a standard construction. The location of the timerin the circuits-is. shown in Fig. 1 2 and its physioal location in Fig. 1. The timer controls h ookin e ing. and. s m periods. and; ni a e the i z hs. i. h h- Lo ate he e wil ad a t he seat i a econd; w ch. 1 e t h. arm. Q which extends toward the hub of the gear 46 in position to be. struok and closed by astud I06 on the hub 45. .The. switch I02 sets the timer n. o erat on a the am m ha h v n starts in rotation. The switch I is in series with the solenoid I99 and with a switch in the timer. and its purpose is to insure that the gun is arrested in its upright position. For this pur-. pose the circuit to the solenoid will be partially closed by the switch the timer andkeptv in that condition for a sufficient period for the switch I95 to complete the circuit.

When the solenoid I00 is energized. the holding pin 98 is moved upwardly to release the lever 35, which instantly drops to the lowered position shown in Fig. 4a and disconnects the gun andv driving clutch, but this solenoid cannot be energized until the switch I05 is closed and the stud IDS. is. so located that this will not occur unless the gun is in the portion of its arc of rotation so that it will be arrested in upright position.

On the hub 45 is also. located a stud I II]. which may be referred to as the backlash preventing stud. Pivoted to the rear side wall 2| is an arm. I II having an extension II2 which is located above the hub 4.5. and is movable behind the stud when the gun is arrested. The arm III rests on the upper end of the extension 82 from the arm 80. Thus, when the lever 85 is released by the operation of the solenoid, it drops and moves downwardly as the roller 93 moves over the guide plate or track 94, as soon as the finger B'I enters the notch 89.. This movement. of the lever 85 lowers the arm III-II2 which rides over the stud III) and comes to rest behind the s d v he s e. ti e tha he fines B1 shuts the radial wall of the notch, and the gun driving clutch is released. The arm III-.-I I2 prevents any ret n. ovement or b h Of the gun After the operator has placed the charge of r in in h gun. a d has clo ed the ssh h dv by th mechan sm be descri e sta ts. th un tation by lifting e lever 5 n mo ing it ba wardly until th g 95 is hin the in 98, the pin 98 yielding upwardly against the f rc oi th s rin 9. The up a d m em n of the lev r loses. the switc 6 nd t htif a s per on: I a so moves the un d i ing clutch through the trigger I5. So long as the pin 98 i in i s, low d position. th e e is d in raise posi on n he un oqhtih in rotation until the timer sets the circuit to he s lenoid I0 and he switch I05 is closed. f nu se he swi ch 05 is closed a sash at o i oi t g n u i i not fi t i s un il the switch in the timer has set the circuit to the solenoid. The energizing of the solenoid Gun head operating mechanism The gun head 2 is a heavy closure adaptedv to have a. tight sealing relation with the mouth 0f?" the. gun. It is mounted in an opening in the. arm Il5, one end of which is forked. and pivotally mounted on a pin IIB carried on a web. II-Biormed in theface of-the rotating. ring The other-or free end of the arm I I5 is also forked as shown at. I to receive the lockin arm II 9. The. locking arm is pivoted on a stud shaft I-2I set. in parallel webs I22 formed in the ring. I 6; opp site the web II8. The arm II 9 is made with, afiat section which enters thefork I20, when the head is locked. Beyond the flat portion, the. arm is formed with a rounded extension I;Z4;, which is threaded at its outer end toreceive a nut I25. Surrounding the extension {2ft oi the lockingarm is a heavy coil spring I21 which is confined between the nut I25 and a locking ring I28, the outer portions of which hat. xtend th r s d Q he fi qr of; the arm being formed with rounded bearing surfac s. as. show i F 9 n 0 which ride over the extremities of; the arm II5 tohold the, sun. head; i h a i t th mouth of 5 41 The essur x s i by the h e I21 masts. edit -t d. hr the ut '2 which a oeives the blowof the firing arm to be described. The ends or the arm II5 are rounded asshown in Figs. 3 and 9 to facilitate. the movement of" the looking ring over the. ends of the arm H5.

When the gun isiired, which is by the opening of the. head, the gate is thrown open by the expansion of; the contents of the gun. As explained in connection with the description of the gun rotating. mechanism, the gun is in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 9 when its rotation is arrested just before the firing operation. As the gun head is opened with considerable violence. there. is provided a heavy cushion block I which receives the impact of the head. This block is located in a holder I3I secured to a shell I32 welded and braced on the bin side of a vertical plate I34 spanning and attached to the lower extensions of the side walls 20 and 2|. In closing the gun head, the first operation is to. lift the 'gun'head from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3. This is done by the head lifting arm which bears the numeral 36 and is normally in its lowered position. This arm is Ueshaped, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer or oifset portion lying below the head when the latter is in lowered position. The axial portions I37 and I3'Ia of the arm I are journaled in a hearing I38 and an escutcheon plate I39 set in and secured to the edge of the rear side plate 2| and also in bearing I39a carried on the front side plate 23. Keyed to the part I3] is a sleeve I4I having a crank; .arrn I42. the outer end of which is pivoted to a link I 43 secured to the rod HM of a piston movable in the pressure cylinder I45, The cylinder M5 is pivoted to a bracket I41 secured to the side plate 2|. This cylinder moves the arm between the lowered position shown in Figs. 2, .3, and l0 and the raised position shown n'do ss es in 3 and n l in in h When the charge of grain is introducedinto the sh throu h he ed hut is. h (iterator s e s on. a s i th iii lssa s a' o h h ih h ar the oo t he. bi and t i th i 'h h wii a ie isi ii it ih the wiring shown in Fig. 12, operates a valve mechanism indicated diagrammatically by the numeral II in Fig. 12 to project the piston in the cylinder I45 outwardly, raising the arm and closing the head of the gun. The valve mechanism I5I at the head of the cylinder may be of any standard type and the details thereof are not illustrated. Other operating cylinders are likewise equipped with similar reversing mechanisms.

During the time that the gun head is raised, the locking arm H9 is also raised and held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by an arm I55, which may be termed the firing arm. This arm is fixed to a sleeve I56 keyed to a horizontal shaft I57 and held in position by a nut I58, threaded on the end of the shaft and held thereby against a collar I59 pinned to the shaft. Shaft I5! is rotatable in a bearing I60 bolted near the top right hand upper corner of the front side plate 20 and in a second bearing block I62 near the left hand upper corner of side plate 20. A nut Ifi3 on the end of shaft I5? holds it in position in its bearings in conjunction with collar I553.

The bearing its is formed with a vertical housing and guideway I56. t this guideway and keyed to shaft I5? is a shaft operating pinion I67. This pinion meshes with a vertically moving rack I68 located between the pinion and the guideway I55 (Fig. 6). The lower end of rack IE8 is pinned to a block I79 that is threaded on the end of rod I'iI connected to a piston in the fluid pressure cylinder I12. Cylinder I12 is mounted on angle irons I74 welded to blocks I15 which are, in turn, welded to the side plate 2}). As the piston in the cylinder [12 moves downwardly, the firing arm 55 will move upwardly and as the head I25 on the locking arm H9 is in the path of the firing arm the arm will be moved from its lowered or looking position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 to its raised or firing position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and full lines in Fig. 9. The movement of the piston in the cylinder I72 is controlled by valve mechanism indicated diagrammatically by the numeral Il'G in Fig. 12.

As the freeing of the locking arm takes considerable force and momentum, the firing arm is weighted by means of a heavy bar I78 carried on arms [l9 extending from the shaft I5! between its bearings. A cushion block I80 mounted on the side plate 2i] receives the impact of the bar I'IB on its downstroke. While the weight of the bar H8 might be sufficient to free the locking arm, it is desirable to supplement that weight by pressure behind the piston, moving the piston downwardly. The firing'arm is lowered by reverse movement of the piston, controlled through the valve mechanism IIG.

It is also necessary to provide means to receive and absorb the impact of the locking arm as it is violently thrown to its upper or unlocking position by the firing arm I55. For this purpose, a heavy beam of metal I82 is suspended by cables I83 from the roof of the bin, a recess I84 being provided in the beam to receive the impact of the locking arm.

In the operation of the gun, the firing arm remains in its raised position, holding the looking arm out of the path of the head 2 until the head has been raised by the arm I36. When the arm I36 is brought to its raised position, holding the head against the mouth of the gun, the firing arm I55 moves downwardly to its lowered position and the locking arm drops into the slot in the outer end of the head supporting arm I I5.

It is also necessary to insure that the head is securely closed. For this purpose there is provided a heavy hammer or driver I which is brought downward with great force against the nut I25 on the locking arm. The hammer is guided in its movement by an apertured plate I9I secured to the wall ll of the bin through the bracing angle iron I92. At its upper end, the hammer is pivoted at I to a clevis on the end of a rod I96 connected to a piston in the fluid pressure cylinder I9! which is also carried on the inside of the wall H. The piston in cylinder I91 is raised and lowered by valve mechanism diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12 at I98. While the weight of the hammer I99 may be sufficient, it is desirable to supplement that weight by pressure behind the piston, forcing the piston and hammer downwardly. The hammer is raised on the reverse movement of the piston, controlled through the valve mechanism I98, which is actuated by a switch I99, the arm of which bears against the hammer E98. As the hammer reaches the lower end of its movement, the arm of the switch I99 passes off the hammer and sets the valve I93 so as to return the hammer immediately to its raised position.

The sequence of operations of the three instrumentalities which operate the head, i. e., the head lifting arm I36, the firing arm I55, and the hammer I88, is as follows:

When the head is open, as in Fig. 9, the arm I36 is in its lowered position below the head and the firing arm is in its raised position holding the locking arm in its raised position, out of the path of the head. The hammer is also raised. When the operator steps on the switch M9, the arm I36 is raised, closing the head. As the arm I36 completes its upward stroke, the firing arm returns to its lower or idle position. The locking arm drops into the slot I20 in the head supporting arm I I5. The arm I36 now returns to its lowered position and the hammer is dropped onto the locking arm with great force, driving the locking arm home. The hammer instantly returns to its raised position.

The gun is now securely locked. In the meantime, the operator has moved to the starting lever 85 and raised it to the full line position shown in Fig. 4 and the gun starts to rotate and the timer I04 begins to function. At the end of the process, the gun is arrested at the point with the locking arm at the top of the drum, as has been described. The timer then actuates the valve mechanism H6 at the cylinder I12 for the firing arm, raising it to throw the locking arm out of engagement with the head, and the explosion and discharge of the grain ensues.

To obtain the sequence of operations which brings the gun to the point where the starting lever may be actuated, two collars 200 and 202 are keyed to the outwardly projecting portion of the shaft I31. A third collar 2% is also keyed to the shaft I31 and from this collar extend two parallel arms 204. The collar 200 is in alignment with and operates a micro-switch 285 by a pin 266 projecting from the collar. Collar 202 is in alignment with and operates a micro-switch 208 by a pin 2B9 projecting from that collar. The

switches 205 and 298 are in line and are carried on the underside of the bracket ZIG attached to the side plate 2I. These switches are so located that they are actuated when the arm IE6 is at the top of its swing. The switch 205 reverses the valve mechanism at H 6 and returns the firing arm to verse pin 2| I on which is freely pivotedadog 212.

movement of which in one direction isprevented by a stop pin 2M. When the arm I3Ii -is in its lowered position, the dog 2 l2 lies behindthe operating arm 2 I 5 of a micro-switch'Z-l fi-carried by the side plate 2i. As the composite arm'204 swings outwardly during the raising of the head, the dog 2I2 rotates on the pin 2H so that the-dog passes idly-over the switch-arm'2 I5. On return movement, however, the backward movement -of the dog 2 I2 is prevented'by the pin 21-4 "so that, as the arm contacts the switcharm-2I5, the-dog straightens out and becomes temporarily -a rigid extension of the arm'2ll4 as shown-indottedlines in Fig. 11. This actiondepresses the'arm 2l5 and closes the switch-2 I6.

The switch 2I6 closes the-circuit to-the valve mechanism I98 ofthehammer cylinder operating the piston in cylinder -I9'I to drive the hammer against the end ofthe locking pin. This opera tion occurs afterthedifting arm I36 and -the firing arm are lowered. 'I-hereturn-movementof the hammer is through the switch l'99, as has been described.

The diagrammatic layout (Fig. 12)

sure enters the system'through'aline23'4which leads to the timer. A branch line 3235 leads to the temperature control unit '28. A secondline 236 conducts air to theseveral operative cylinders, a branch line 231 leading to'the valvemechani'sm I5I on the cylinder I45forthe headliftingarm'a second line 233 to the valvemechani'sm llfi a't the firing arm cylinder I72 and a'thirdline"239 to the valve mechanism "I 98 for the hammer cylinder I91.

Electric current enters'thesystemat the. point- 260. A circuit 2 which leads "through the switch I02 at the starting lever-85 and the timer, sets the timerin motion when the *starting lever is raised to close this circuitand this circuit'remains closed until the-operation of'thetimer is stopped momentarily after *the dropping of the arm 85. A shunt circuit 242 leadsfr'om the line 24I to the timer. In this-"circuit is located-in series the solenoid I 09 which releases the lever 85 and the switch I05 -which in'sures-the upright position of the gun for thefiring'operation. As explained heretofore, there is also a time controlled switch in the tim'erwhichcloses these circuits when the proc'ess is at an end.

From the supply lines 1 at "24-0, -lines-- go to -*'a transformer 245 from whicha line 246 goes to the timer. From line 246 a circuit- 248 passes through the switch I 49,throug'h the valve mechanism I5I,thr 0ugh switch -208, and"-back to the transformer. One end of-a sh urlt eirc'i iit fifl -is from the burner. the timer closes the :circuit MI by the gun. The Jstartinglever stoppingthe rotation .ofthe gun 10 connected to the circuit 248, passes through the switch 205, valve mechanism I'Iii, and back to the timer. A second shunt circuit is connected 'at both ends to the circuit 248, passing through thes-witch 2 Hithrough the valve mechanism I98 and-switch I99.

Resume 'It is'believed that the operations :of the'mechanism "will have been understood from the detailed'description. Briefly summarized, they are -'asffollows The operator, havingcharged the gun with the required :amount :of grain, closes the switch I49 whichgthrough valve mechanism I5 I at the cylinmechanism I16 :at cylinder .112 and lowers .the firing arm, which dropscthe lockingiarm I.I.9 -:over the head. As:the.'arm.l36 reaches thelower-limit of 1 its return c'movement, :therswitch 2 I 6 is closed by the dog 2 I 2, which factuates .the valve mechanism I98 at'theihammercylinderJ91. This H9,

The gun is now ready: for l the. grainitreating operation, which is? initiated ibyiraising the lever -85 whichstarts the.

gun in operation :and also starts the timer. The first operation performed by the timer is to open:the .valve .230, which permits the ,gun to :bleed for approximately .10 seconds to remove any condensate from .the

.gun. Valve 233 is then closed by the .timer and valve. 22 I 'opened to' admit steam to the. gun.

'St'eamis .allowed to "how into the gun to .bring thepressure to the .correct degree, depending upon the contents of the gun. The gun'is meanwhile in rotation and subjected .to 1 the heat After the processing period, which, through the shunt circuit 1242, :will energize 'the solenoid we at the moment when ithezswitch I 05 .isclosed is now rreleased, and opening. the circuit 2 but the arrangementv in the timer will permit it to function for .a moment thereafter. The valve 22! .williclo'se-and .the'circuit 250 vwill also .be :closed,:ac tuating the. firing. arm,

which strikes the locking arm and .releases the i puifed grain, .completing .the cycle. -IIhe operator, with an air line (not shown), blows any remaining grain ..out of thegunandiadmits the new charge.

The timer lil l'isiof .anystandard make,

1 number of timing.'mechanisms.being:onithe vmarket and availableiforithisitypeLQfroperation. .As

--the details ofitheivarious types of itimers. suitable for the purpose-are quite complicated and: form no 5 part of the present invention, ithey ihave not beenv illustrated.

It will-ibe seen from thedescription.andttdrawings that the J mechanism is almost completely While the description has been given in great detail, it will be appreciated that-the mechanism I shown for controlling thevarious operationsmay "be altered in manyways. Themechanism shown 'is whatfi has been idevelope'd i tofrelieve ithe? operator of much manual labor and to secure more uniform results and much greater production at less cost. The claims which are appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the specific mechanism shown herein, except insofar as expressly stated in the claims and as required by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A grain puffing machine comprising a gun rotatable upon its axis, a head to close the mouth of the gun, means to rotate the gun, means to stop the rotation of the gun at a fixed point after a predetermined processing period, a locking device for the head of the gun, a firing arm movable over the mouth of the gun, and means actuated after the gun has stopped its rotation to move the firing arm to free the locking device.

2. A grain pufing machine comprising a gun rotatable upon its axis, means to rotate the gun, a pivoted head to close the mouth of the gun, means to rock the head into contact with the mouth of the gun, a lock for the head of the gun, an arm movable across the head and operable to release the look while moving in one direction and to restore the lock to locking position when moved in the other direction, means to arrest the rotation of the gun after a predetermined processing period in position with the lock in the path of the arm and means operative while the gun is at rest to actuate the arm.

3. A grain pufiiing machine comprising a gun rotatable upon its axis, a pivoted head to close the mouth of the gun, a locking device for the head of the gun, a firing arm movable across the head of the gun and operable to release the locking device while moving in one direction and to restore the locking device to locking position while moving in the opposite direction, and a head closing device operable to move the head to closed position between the movements of the firing arm.

4. A grain pumng machine comprising a gun, a pivoted head to close the mouth of the gun, a pivoted locking arm movable into engagement with the head while in closed position, a firing arm reoiprocable across the mouth of the gun, said firing arm striking the locking arm and releasing it from the head in one direction of its movement and restoring the. locking arm to head engaging position on its return movement, a reoiprocable head lifting arm operable to raise the head into engagement with the gun, means to actuate the said lifting arm to raise the head and to return the firing arm and the lifting arm thereafter.

5. A grain puifing machine comprising a gun, a pivoted head to close the mouth of the gun, a pivoted locking arm movable into engagement with the head while in closed position, a firing arm reoiprocable across the mouth of the gun, said firing arm striking the locking arm and releasing it from the head in one direction of its movement and restoring the locking arm to head engaging position on its return movement, a reoiprocable head lifting arm operable to raise the head into engagement with the gun, means to actuate the said lifting arm to raise the head and to return the firing arm and the lifting arm thereafter, a hammer for the locking device, and means to drive the hammer against the locking arm after the return of the firing arm and the lifting arm.

6. A grain puffiing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, means to stop the rotation of the gun at a fixed point after a predeter mined interval, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm movable across the head to strike the lock and release the head, and means to actuate the firing arm while the gun is at rest, said fixed point at which the gun stops being with the lock in the path of the firing arm.

7. A grain pufiing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timing device, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm movable across the mouth of the gun to strike the lock and release the head, and means controlled by the timer to stop the rotation of the gun after a predetermined interval with the lock in the path of the firing arm and thereafter to actuate the firing arm.

8. A grain puffing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm reoiprocable across the head to strike the lock and release the head when moving in one direction and to shift the lock onto the head on its return movement, and means controlled by the timer to stop the rotation of the gun after a predetermined interval and thereafter to actuate the firing arm.

9. A grain puffing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm reoiprocable across the head to strike the lock and release the head when moving in one direction and to shift the lock onto the head on its return movement, and means controlled by the timer to bring the gun to rest with the lock in the path of the firing arm, after a predetermined interval and thereafter to actuate the firing arm.

10. A grain puifing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock mounted on the gun and movable into position to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm reoiprocable across the head to strike the lock and release the head when moving in one direction and to shift the lock onto the head on its return movement, means to move the head against the mouth of the gun before the return movement of the firing arm, and means controlled by the timer to stop the rotation of the gun after a predetermined interval and thereafter to actuate the firing arm.

11. A grain puffing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock mounted on the gun and movable into position to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm reoiprocable across the head to strike the lock and release the head when moving in one direction and to shift the lock onto the head on its return movement, means to move the head against the mouth of the gun before the return movement of the firing arm, and means controlled by the timer to bring the gun to rest with the lock in the path of the firing arm after a predetermined interval and thereafter to actuate the firing arm.

12. A grain pufling machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, ja head enthe gun, a lock to hold the 'head over the mouth of the gun, means to move the head [into contact with the mouth of the gun, means to "shift the lock onto the head, a hammer in line with the lock, means actuated after the lockfis over the head to drive the hammer against the 1001;, and means controlled by, the timer to bring thegun to rest with the lock in the path or the hammer.

13. A grain pumng machinecom'pri'sing a gun, means to rotate the "gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotationoffthegun and the operation of the timer, 'a .head on the gun, a lock to hold thev head oventhe, mouth, of the gun, means tomove 'the headfoverthefmouth of the gun, a firing arm reciprocable over 'the head of the gun, thefiring arm when moving in one direction releasing the lock andon its return shifting the look over the head, means to move the head into contactwith the mouth of the gun before the return movement ,of the firing arm, a hammer, means to drive lthe'hammer against the lock after the returnIof the firing arm, and means controlledjby. thertimer to bring the gun to rest with'the lock'in'the path of the firing arm and thereafter to move the firing arm across the mouth of thegun, I

'14. A grain pufing machine comprising 'a gun,

means to rotate'the'gun, atimer, inansacting simultaneously to start thefrotation ofthe gun and the operation of the timer, ahead on the gun, a lock to hold the head o'ver'the mouth of the gun, means to movethe head over the mourh of the gun, a firing arm reciprocable overthe head of the gun, the firing v in one direction releasing 'the lock and ion its return shifting thelock over the head, meansto move the head into contact with the mouth of the gun before the return movement of th'e'firing arm, a hammer, means to drive the hammer against the lock after the return. movement of the firing arm, and means controlled by the timer to bring the gun to'rest with 'the lock in the path of the firing arm and in the path of the hammer and thereafter to move thefiringarm across the mouth of the gun. H

15. Agrain puffing machine comprisingagun,

means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of thiegun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the headover the mouth of the gun, means to move the head over themouth of the gun, a firing arm reciprocable over the head of the gun, the firing arm when moving in one direction releasing the lock and on its return shifting the look over the head, means to move the head into contact with the mouth of the gun before the return movement of the firing arm, a hammer, means actuated by the head moving means to drive the hammer against the look after the return movement of the firing arm, and means controlled by the timer to bring the gun to rest with the lock in the path of the firing arm and thereafter to move the firing arm across the mouth of the gun.

16. A grain puffing machine comprising a gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer, means acting simultaneously to start the rotation of the gun and the operation of the timer, a head on the gun, a lock to hold the head over the mouth of the gun, means to move the head over the mouth of the gun, a firing arm reciprocable over the head of the gun, the firing arm when moving in one direction releasing the lock and on its return shifting the look over the head, means to arm when moving -14 move thah a n n aq w h th mcut gi hb gun before the return movement of the firing arm, a hammer, means actuated "by the head moving means to drive the hammer against the lock afterthe return movement of the firing arm, and means controlled by the timer to bring the gun to rest with the lock inthe path of the firing arm and in the path of the hammer and thereafter 't'o move the firing arm across the mouth ofthe'gun. I v

jl7. A grain pufiing machine comprising a gun, ahead on the gun andmovable to' close the mouth of the gun, an armmovable to close the head against the mouthof the gun, a lock movable into engagement with the header firing arm reciprocable across the head, means .to move the firing ar'm to'release the lock in'one direction and torestorejthe lock to locking position'on its reij'turn'movement, and means actuated at'the end of the head closingf'movement of the first named arm to'start the firing arm on its return movemerit. v 4 i V r 18. A grainfpuffing 'machine'comprising agun,

a head on the gun and mo'vable 'to close'the mouth of the gun, an [arm movable to 'close the head against the'mouthbf the gun, "alock movable into engagement with the head,a firing 'armreciprocable across the head, means to move the firing arm torjeleasethe lock in'one direction and to restore the look to 'loc'kingjposition on its return movement; means actuated 'atthe end" of the head closin movement of the first named arm to start the firing arm on its return movement, a hammer, and means actuated by the first named'armto'caiise'the hammer to'str'ike the look after the firing arm begins its return movement,

19. A grain; p'uffi'ng machine comprising agun, "a head on the'g'un and movable to close the mouth of the'gun, an arm movable to clos the "head.

against the'mouth'of the gun, a lock movable into engagement with the head, a firing armfr'eciprocable across the head, means to move the arm to release thellock in one direction and to restore the lock'to locking position on :its return moye- Inent, actuated at the end of the head closing movement of thefirst named armto start the firin arm on its return movement, a drop hammer overthe lock, and trip mechanismactuated by the first named arm after the lockhas been restored to locking-position to release the am r-V 20. Agrain pufiing machine eomprisingagun, a head pivoted on the gun, aswinging arm movable to raise the head against the mouth of the gun, a pivoted locking arm on the gun adapted to engage the head in looking position, a firing arm mounted to sweep across the gun to raise the locking arm in one direction and to restore the locking arm on it return movement, and means actuated by the swinging arm at the end of its head raising stroke to start the firing arm on its return movement.

21. A grain puffing machine comprising a, gun, a head pivoted on the gun, a swinging arm movable to raise the head against the mouth of the gun, a pivoted locking arm on the gun adapted to engage the head in looking position, a firing arm mounted to sweep across the gun to raise the locking arm in one direction and to restore the locking arm on its return movement, means actuated by the swinging arm at the end of its head raising stroke to start the firing arm on its return movement, a drop hammer over the lock, and trip mechanism actuated by the swing- -15 ing arm after the locking arm has been restored to lockin position to release the hammer.

22. A grain puifing machine comprising a rotatable gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer to arrest the rotation of the gun after a predetermined period, a head on the gun, an arm movable to close the head against the mouth of the gun, a lock movable into engagement with the head, a firing arm reciprocable across the head, means actuated when the gun is arrested to move the firing arm to release the lock in one direction and to restore the lock to locking position on its return movement, and means actuated at the end of the head closing movement of the first named arm to start the firing arm on its return movement.

23. A grain pufiing machine comprising a rotatable gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer to arrest the rotation of the gun after a predetermined period, a head on the gun, an arm movable to close the head against the mouth of the gun, a lock movable into engagement with the head, a firing arm reciprocable across the head, means actuated when the gun is arrested to move the firing arm to release the lock in one direction and to restore the lock to locking position on its return movement, means actuated at the end of the head closing movement of the first named arm to start the firin arm on its return movement, a hammer, and means actuated by the first named arm to cause the hammer to strike the lock after the firing arm begins its return movement.

24. A grain pufiing machine comprising a rotatable gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer to arrest the rotation of the gun after a predetermined period, a head on the gun, an arm movable to close the head against the mouth of the gun, a lock carried by the gun and rotatable therewith, said lock being movable into engagement with the head, a firing arm reciprocable across the head, means actuated when the gun is arrested to move the firing arm to release the lock in one direction and to restore the lock to locking position on its return movement, means actuated at the end of the head closing movement of the first named arm to start the firing arm on its return movement, and means to insure that the gun is arrested with the lock in the path of the firing arm.

25. A grain puffing machine comprising a rotatable gun, means to rotate the gun, a timer to arrest the rotation of the gun after a predetermined period, a head on the gun, an arm movable to close the head against the mouth of the gun, a lock movable into engagement with the head, a firing arm reciprocable across the head, means actuated when the gun is arrested to move the firing arm to release the lock in one direction and to restore the lock to locking position on its return movement, means actuated at the end of the head closing movement of the first named arm to start the firing arm on its return movement, a hammer, means actuated by the first named arm to cause the hammer to strike the look after the firing arm begins its return movement, and means to insure that the gun is arrested with the lock in the path of the firing arm and in the path of the hammer.

26. A grain pufiing machine comprising a gun, a head on the gun and movable to close the mouth of the gun, an arm to move the head against the mouth of the gun, a 1001:, means to shift the lock into engagement with the head, a hammer in alignment with the lock, and a single manually operated means to actuate the arm, then to shift the lock and drive the hammer against the lock.

2'7. A grain puffing machine comprising a retatable gun, a head on the gun and movable to close the mouth of the gun, an arm to move the head against the mouth of the gun, a lock, means to shift the look into engagement with the head, a hammer in alignment with the look, a single manually operated means operable while the gun is at rest to actuate the arm, then to shift the lock and drive the hammer against the look, a firing arm movable across the head of the gun to release the lock, a single manually operated mean to set the gun in rotation, a timer to arrest the movement of the gun with the lock in the path of the firing arm, and means actuated by the timer while the gun is at rest to move the firing arm.

ROBERT H. ERNEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,395,014 Howell Oct. 25, 1921 1,878,782 Kirn Sept. 20, 1932 2,086,266 I-Ieve et al July 6, 1937 2,259,802 Crosby Oct. 21, 1941 2,279,868 Hayden Apr. 14, 1942 2,539,990 Chapman et al Jan. 30, 1951 

